Book Musik 018 – William S. Burroughs and the Cult of Rock ‘n’ Roll by Casey Rae

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William S. Burroughs and the Cult of Rock 'n' Roll by Casey Rae

Tosh and Kimley discuss William S. Burroughs and the Cult of Rock ‘n’ Roll by Casey Rae. William Burroughs has always been a magnet for the music crowd. Icons as diverse as Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Patti Smith, Jimmy Page, Thurston Moore, Kurt Cobain and so many more have all made a pilgrimage to sit at the feet of the outlaw writer. Steely Dan and Soft Machine cribbed their names from Burroughs and countless others have cited his cut-up technique as an inspirational tool. Now considered classics, books like Naked Lunch, Junky, and Queer were not so gently pushing the boundaries of polite society and challenging obscenity laws. It’s no wonder the rock ‘n’ roll crowd came knocking.

Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17


Book Musik 17 – Reel Art Press with Tony Nourmand & Dave Brolan

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Reel Art Press booksTosh and Kimley discuss the books of Reel Art Press with special guests Tony Nourmand (the founder and editor in chief) and Dave Brolan (the music editor.) Reel Art Press publishes stunning books on an eclectic array of subjects usually with a music, film or pop-culture foundation. Tony and Dave, both enormously passionate about what they do, regale us with some fantastic and often amusing stories about running an independent press and working with the likes of Led Zeppelin and some of the most iconic music/rock photographers in the biz. Each of their books brings a unique perspective and is a piece of art in and of itself.

Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17

Book Musik 16 – Bowie’s Bookshelf: The Hundred Books that Changed David Bowie’s Life by John O’Connell

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Tosh and Kimley discuss Bowie’s Bookshelf: The Hundred Books that Changed David Bowie’s Life by John O’Connell. Any serious Bowie fan knows that Bowie was a voracious reader and the epitome of an autodidact. In 2013 the Victoria & Albert museum had a David Bowie exhibit and Bowie graced us with an additional memento which was this list of 100 books that changed his life. John O’Connell dissects each of these books and tries to surmise the specifics of influence and import to Bowie. It’s an impossible task but an amusing one that leads to further discussion on one of our favorite topics: David Bowie!

Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17

Book Musik 15 – Tony Conrad Writings

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Tosh and Kimley discuss Tony Conrad Writings with special guest Andrew Lampert who co-edited the book with Constance DeJong. Conrad is primarily known for his work as a musician/composer, an experimental filmmaker and artist. He was a hugely influential key figure in the early minimalist music scene in New York in the 1960s. Wanting to explore other modes of creativity he then pushed up against the confines of the film-going experience with films like “The Flicker” and “Yellow Movies.” Always curious, always questioning, Conrad never ceased to be doing something new and unexpected. His Writings give us just one more wonderful chance to go down the rabbit hole with him.

Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17

Book Musik 14 – Wendy Carlos’s Switched-On Bach by Roshanak Kheshti

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Tosh and Kimley discuss Wendy Carlos’s Switched-On Bach by Roshanak Kheshti from the 33 1/3 series. Switched-On Bach, an album of Bach compositions played on a Moog synthesizer, is one of the bestselling classical recordings of all time. In the 1960s Carlos worked with Robert Moog to further the synthesizer’s capabilities and with the 1968 release of Switched-On Bach she pioneered an entirely new way of making music. She also wrote powerful scores to several films including Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange and The Shining. And she was one of the first public figures to come out as transgender. She’s groundbreaking in both her professional and private life and yet she’s maintained an air of mystery and intrigue that we find very compelling.

Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17

Book Musik 13 – Scott Walker and the Song of the One-All-Alone by Scott Wilson

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Tosh and Kimley discuss Scott Walker and the Song of the One-All-Alone by Scott Wilson. This will most likely be the smartest book you’ll ever read about a singer-songwriter/musician. But Scott Walker is probably also the smartest singer-songwriter/musician you’re ever likely to encounter. From his early pop idol days as a member of The Walker Brothers in the 1960s to his highly experimental solo albums, Scott Walker is someone who will always challenge and intrigue. Never one to hide his intellectual inclinations, his music has always had strong political and philosophical leanings. Scott Wilson doesn’t hesitate to dig deep into this genius’s work and the well never runs dry.

Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17

Book Musik 12 – Face It by Debbie Harry

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Tosh and Kimley discuss Face It by Debbie Harry of Blondie fame, probably the most well-known band from the legendary 70s CBGB music scene in New York. Harry was hugely influential as one of the first women to lead a rock band and has spent most of her life hanging out with the denizens of the creative worlds of NYC. Andy Warhol, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith and Jean-Michel Basquiat are just a few of the intriguing people who show up in this memoir. She has some tales to tell but we were left with the nagging feeling that there’s more to the story than meets the eye.

Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17

Book Musik 11 – This Searing Light, the Sun and Everything Else: Joy Division: the Oral History by Jon Savage

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Tosh and Kimley discuss This Searing Light, the Sun and Everything Else: Joy Division: the Oral History edited by Jon Savage. Joy Division seems to be the poster band for the doom and gloom of the industrial city of Manchester, England. This book is a lively telling of their relationship to the city and the development and twists and turns of a young band. Equally important are the key players who helped them along the way including the engaging entrepreneur Tony Wilson, the brilliant producer Martin Hannett and the iconic graphic designer Peter Saville.

Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17

Book Musik Episode 10 – Golden Hits of the Shangri-Las by Ada Wolin

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Tosh and Kimley discuss Golden Hits of the Shangri-Las by Ada Wolin from the 33 1/3 series. The Shangri-Las were a teenage girl group of the 1960s with a reputation for coming from the mean streets of Queens, NY. Their world was bleak and things always ended badly in the melodrama of their biggest hits like “Leader of the Pack” and “Remember.” They had a huge influence on a diverse group of musicians from The NY Dolls and The Damned to Blondie and Alex Chilton. We venture down the path of their dark world.

Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17

Book Musik Episode 9 – Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith

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Tosh and Kimley discuss Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith. As a punk rock icon, she rocked our impressionable teenage souls and now she’s taking us on a dreamy literary excursion with her latest memoir. Patti Smith may be best known for her groundbreaking albums “Horses” and “Easter,” but we find that her latest writing takes her to an even higher plane. She shares the ups and downs, both personal and global, of the year 2016 – the Year of the Monkey.

Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17